Falcons' Smith, Redskins' Hall say they've made up

The Atlanta Falcons coach and the Washington Redskins cornerback said Wednesday they got together at the Pro Bowl two seasons ago and made amends for a melee involving the two at a 2009 game.

"We're cool," Hall said. "We got a chance to sit and reminisce over some drinks out in Hawaii."

Things weren't cool three seasons ago when a late hit on quarterback Matt Ryan led to a heated exchange along the Atlanta sideline involving Hall, Smith and several other players. Stern words were also exchanged after the game. Smith was one of four people were fined by the NFL over the incident, although Hall escaped without any penalty.

The two were reunited when Smith was put in charge of the NFC's Pro Bowl team at the end of the 2010 season. Hall made the squad and was the game's MVP.

They will see each other again when the Redskins host the Falcons on Sunday.

"I got a chance to be around that coaching staff and make our amends, me and him and the rest of the coaching staff," Hall said. "I'm excited to see those guys before the game and say: 'What's up.' Make sure that everything is going good and make sure that their families are doing good before the whistle blows. When the whistle blows, he's going to want to kill me and I'm going to want to kill him."

Smith said he was the one who initiated the truce in Hawaii.

"I went up and talked to him. We had a real good conversation sitting out by the pool the first night we were there," Smith said. "Hey listen, DeAngelo is one of the most competitive guys in this league. You can see it in the way he plays every week. Competition and emotion are a big part of being successful in this league and that's why he's been around for nine years and played the way he's played."